Let The Right One In (2008)

“Låt den rätte komma in” (original title)

Starring: Kåre Hedebrant, Lina Leandersson, Per Ragnar

Directed by: Thomas Alfredson

Written By: John Ajvide Lindqvist

Rating: R (US) Running Time: 1 hr 54 min

Two Cents:

This is a long and extremely slow moving story that if you have the patients for it, will provide some entertainment. At 115 minutes long, I feel it could have lost 20 minutes and still preserve the poignant love story between the boy and his young vampire neighbor. The visual effects and make up are very effective, and the two child leads perform their parts well. Your patients is rewarded during the last 10 minutes of the film, and the very final shot of the movie is extremely moving.

Movie Prep:

As I said, this is a slow moving story but it does reward your patients towards the end. Up until the 50 minute mark however, not a lot happens. It’s also in Swedish, so you unless you speak the language, you’ll be reading subtitles (note, this is not a complaint, I’d take subtitles over dubbing all day!) This is also classified as a horror/drama. The slow pace of the film might unnerve some, but there are no out and out attempts to make you jump out of your seat.

Best viewing format:

Even though the film is set in Stockholm during winter, there is little visual flare that would cry out for a theater sized screen. At home a HD rental or streaming session will do just fine.

Best moment for me:

Maybe it’s just my sense of humor, but when a lady who has recently been turned into a vampire gets attacked by cats, I laughed out loud!

Jon Bruton’s two pence:

Plodding but very eloquent. Visually simple and haunting. There is a atmospheric creepiness and sweetness to this film that stays with you. There are some really shocking moments in this subdued Swedish classic. The end is superb.

Linked to: In 2010 there was an English language remake of this film, called Let Me In.